Chapter 16 – Too Good to be True

Her first day of freedom had arrived.

But something strange occurred. She leisurely got up without an alarm and no place to go and yet, she frantically walked to the front window wearing her red and white striped pajamas. She just stood there, waiting for someone to knock on her front door, telling her she had to return to work.

For some odd reason she felt as if someone at the office would be coming for her.

It was as if it was too good to be true.

Can this really be?

It took Willow the entire morning to get it through her thick head. She did it. She no longer had to tolerate the office politics, the power trips or any of the outrageous lies that once surrounded her.

Just then, Steve heard her get up as he listened for a long while in silence. He hollered out to her, making sure she wasn’t getting ready for work by pure miserable habit.

“You know you don’t have to go in to work anymore.”

Willow came running into their bedroom, hopping on the bed as her new reality began to set in.

“I’m my own boss now. For some reason I feel like they will not allow me to be free. They will find some excuse for me to go back.”

He laughed but then realized Willow was dead serious. His mind felt her pain as her struggles were real for even him. What have they done to her – not just her but Mitch, too? Maybe this big move, removing them all from the places that triggered bad memories and the chance of more threats and everyday trauma, would finally set her free.

Now she just had one more puppet string to cut.

That weekend the trio traveled back up North, finalizing their new home in the country. They chose a two story home that overlooked the lake with a large room downstairs for Louie. He had his own kitchenette with a sliding glass door that overlooked the water, too.

The stunning views of the lake instantly brought a sense of calm to Willow. She imagined herself writing all day long with such a peaceful and serene view.

Fast forward to a few months later when all of the china and other fragile treasures were wrapped with loving car, boxes were packed and the moving trucks were scheduled.

Louie was first to spot the twenty six foot moving truck.

“Moving truck is here!”

While Louie ran out front to greet the movers, Willow and Steve were running on pure adrenaline. There was not much sleep to be had the night before. Between the upcoming excitement and a moving list a mile long, their adrenaline was beginning to wear off.

The long journey ahead required an overdose of energy drinks and their favorite snacks to accompany them - along with their most precious treasures and private documents individually present in their cars.

Willow desperately tried not to draw attention to their move but it was rather impossible with a beast of a moving truck parked out front – not to mention being parked half way in the street. She was almost in a full sprint, carrying boxes back and forth to her car. They would all be back in a couple days to clean the old house before they surrendered the house keys to the property manager. They were off to a good start and well on their way.

The loading was just about done when Willow noticed one of the movers talking with someone. Whoever it was must have been parked behind the massive truck and blocked from view.

Divine intervention again graced her curiosity.

Who is he talking to?

She gently set her priceless box down, marked Divorce Paperwork, peeking around the corner of the truck.

She nearly wet her pants.

Their eyes met and the red Dodge Ram sped away.

Approaching the mover, wanting to faint in the process, she asked him.

“Do you know who that was?”

He seemed taken back by such an odd question. Thinking, why would I fist bump a stranger…of course I know him.

She obviously missed the fist bump.

“Did you tell him where you were headed?”

He stared at the pavement, thinking, for what seemed to be like 10 minutes was a mere 10 seconds.

Willow appeared calm on the outside as she didn’t want to draw attention to there being a problem. Panic may alert him, encouraging him ask the Dodge Ram driver (his buddy) more questions. That’s the last thing she wanted to do.

“I think I did mention the general direction up north but no address was given Ma’am. Is everything okay?”

Rewind to the beginning. Rewind to the present.

The basement door was now down and off the door hinges.

Nothing but screams of terror can be heard throughout the house. Whoever it is was now inside. Willow remained on the phone with the 911 operator.

The day of reckoning had finally arrived.

Stay tuned…